Holster



a a a a aeoooonooJo oocoonnncooooaetllltlcunnc oouulcooonlo T am INVENTOR CARTER L. WILSON ATTORNEY C. L. WILSON HOLSTER Filed Oct. 9, 1967 May 20, 1969 FIG. 3

Lllllllllll l United States Patent 3,445,046 HOLSTER Carter L. Wilson, 5808 Maywood Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23455 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,602 Int. Cl. A45c l/04; B67d 5/64 US. Cl. 224-26 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holster for snugly holding an elongated aerosol-type container, having an opening for ejecting fluid from the container, an access opening to a valve actuator on the container and means to hold the holster on the belt of the user, while allowing quick detachment.

This invention is concerned with a novel holster for an aerosol-type can, particularly for cans which are used as weapons. Recently such cans, filled with tear gas under pressure, have been introduced as weapons for law enforcement ofiicers. This weapon is already in use by many police departments as a substitute for guns, billies, blackjacks and other conventional weapons, to prevent unnecessary injuries or even fatalities while still serving to immobilize suspects and prisoners. The canisters generally are able to fire, about to times, a stream of fluid, such as tear gas, up to about 25 feet. The ejection of the tear gas as a stream of fluid aids in aiming and ensures that the gas will not blow back into the policemans face.

As heretofore sold and used, however, the tear gas aerosol cylinders are unhandy; while easily carried in the pocket, they require two hands in useone hand to remove the protective cap and one to hold the cylinder and press the actuator which regulates firing. In this invention, a holster is provided for the aerosol can whereby the conventional cap for the valve and spray mechanism is avoided. The holster protects the can from unauthorized or accidental discharge but provides means for ready discharge by the person carrying the holster. The can need not be removed from the holster for use; the weapon can be fired, when necessary, from the hip, but means are provided for carrying the holster on the person of the user, for example, on the belt, which means provide for quick detachment of the holster for firing at eye level, only one hand being needed for these operations. In its preferred form, the holster provides a neat addition to the policemans uniform and is adapted to be worn in proper position for firing by either right-handed or left'handed persons. It will be understood that the holster may be used for carrying aerosol-type containers having contents other than tear gas, to be used as weapons or not, by persons engaged in various activities.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which is to be considered illustrative only and not limiting, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the holster of this invention, containing a tear-gas cylinder weapon and fastened to the belt of a user;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, with the cylinder shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

As can be seen, the aerosol container has the generally cylindrical body portion 11 and a shoulder portion 13 which is surmounted by a head portion containing a valve (not shown). A valve actuator 15 projects out of 3,445,046 Patented May 20, 1969 the top of the canister and generally is actuated by the thumb or index finger of the user to cause pressure within the can to eject a spray through the nozzle 18.

The holster, indicated generally as 20, comprises an essentially elongated body portion 22, having an internal diameter such as to fit snugly around the outside of the body portion 11 of the can. The holster is generally of cylindrical shape, but where the can is other than cylindrical, the inside of the holster will conform to this shape sufiiciently that the can will be held tightly against a change in position within the holster due to the actions of the wearer. Preferably the holster is made of leather, with the smooth side out and the rough side in, the friction characteristics of the unfinished leather being advantageous in holding the canister against a change in position. Leather substitutes may, of course, be used, and positive holding of the can in position may be accomplished by suitable means, for example, a suction grip. As shown, the body portion of the holster extends to the bottom of the can, but the bottom and/or lower portion of the can may be left exposed when such does not lead to an uncertain position of the can in the holster. As shown, the bottom, 25, of the holster generally is provided with the hole 28, through which an instrument may be passed to dislodge a used canister from the holster.

The body portion, 22, of the holster preferably is formed from a single piece of leather, the ends of which may be suitably fastened at the back portion, as, for example, by the sewn seam 30, which is placed to the rear of the holster, giving a generally sloping outside configuration to the rear portion. The ridge thus formed may be advantageous as a gripping element for quick detachment of the holster from the belt, as explained below. In the front portion of the holster, near the top, an opening 33 is provided, and, in use, this opening is aligned with the nozzle, 18, of the canister. As shown, this nozzle may project into or even through the opening 33, but more alignment of the two will generally be sufficient for use of the weapon without removal from the holster.

Opposite to the opening 33 in the front of the holster, is an access opening 36. As shown, this is a cut-away portion of the upper rear body of the holster. The size of this access opening may vary, depending upon the position of the canister valve actuator. Where the actuator is at the top of the can, as shown in the drawing, a relatively large opening is provided for insertion of a greater portion of the thumb or index finger of the user into the rear of the holster to the top of the valve actuator. Where the valve actuator is at the rear, or at least more toward the rear, of the canister, a smaller access opening 36 may be provided. It will be noted that the top member 39 of the holster, by being made of leather or other slightly yieldable material, also provides some give for a slight enlargement of the access opening. The leather strap 42, to which the top 39 is fastened by any suitable means, for example, the rivet 44, also helps to provide some give to the top.

The holster, in use, is supported, preferably on the belt 46 of the user, by a suitable quick-detach means. For example, snaps having their mating portions fixed to the holster and the belt may be employed; however, such serve to disfigure the belt or require custom manufacture of the belt. Advantageously, the holster is supported on the belt 46 of the user by one or the other of the straps 48 and 50. As shown, these straps are preferably provided toward the rear of the holster so that when carried on the belt the access opening 36 will be held somewhat toward the body of the wearer. The valve actuator is thus further protected from unauthorized use by an attacker from the rear.

The straps 48 and 50, as shown, are generally parallel to the central axis of the cylinder 11 and the holster body 22, so that the canister is held in a generally verticallyoriented position, that is, a position transverse to the belt.

The straps are afiixed to the holster body portion 22 at one of their ends, 52, 55, and are detachably connected to the holster body at their other ends, 58 and 60, by any suitable means which Will permit quick removal of the holster from the belt 46. The snap fasteners 63 and 66 illustrated are excellent for this purpose. While sufficient to hold fastened under the normal activities of the policeman, or even under most extreme activities, such fasteners may be readily released by grasping the holster opposite the snap fastener and giving a smart pull on the holster. Such may be done simultaneously with the insertion of the thumb into the cut-away portion 36 for operation of the valve actuator 15.

Further rigidity may be imparted to the top and bottom of the holster by provision of the reinforcing discs 70 and 72 inside the top and bottom members 39 and 25, respectively. The strap 42 may be held to the top of the holster by any convenient means, for example, the rivet 75 at one side of the holster and the snap fastener 77 at the other side.

The mode of use and the advantages of the holster according to this invention are clear from the above description.

What is claimed is:

1. A holster for an elongated container having a valve actuator at its upper portion and a nozzle for ejecting a fluid at its front, comprising an elongated body portion, having an internal configuration suitable for snugly holding said container, a top preventing access to said valve actuator, an opening at the front suitable for alignment with said nozzle, an access opening at the rear suitable for insertion of a finger to contact said valve actuator, and

.4 means on said body portion for detachably connecting the holster to the belt of a user.

2. The holster of claim 1 in which said connecting means are arranged for vertical carriage of the container.

3. The holster of claim 1 in which said connecting means are placed toward the rear of the holster to direct said access opening toward the body of the user.

4. The holster of claim 1 in which the said connecting means comprises a strap, parallel to the axis of the holster, fixed at one of its ends to the holster and detachably fastened to the holster at the other of its ends.

5. The holster of claim 1 in which said connecting means are provided on each side of the holster.

6. The holster of claim 1 in which said access opening is a cut-away portion adjacent said top.

7. The holster of claim 6 in which the said top is slightly yieldable for enlargement of said access opening.

8. The holster of claim 1 in which said body portion is generally cylindrical with a sloping rear portion.

9. The holster of claim 1 in which said body and top are of leather.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,987 10/1946 Schroeder et a1. 222182 XR 2,753,094 7/1956 Haney. 3,240,397 3/1966 Sagarin 222-182 GERALD M. F ORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

